WATERTOWN -- The owners of Theraplant led town officials on a tour of the old industrial building where they hope to grow medical marijuana.

The building at 856 Echo Lake Road was once home to the Keeler & Long paint factory in Watertown's industrial park. Vast rooms are filled with old industrial equipment, mixers bolted into the floors like a giant's KitchenAid and vats the length of several men set to turn industrial coatings. The building's 40 years show in the faux wood paneling in the offices and a pea-green vinyl couch in the foyer, but the rooms are clear of debris and seem to have mostly escaped the attentions of vandals.

Architectural plans for renovations call for demolishing almost everything except exterior walls, and building rooms for offices, marijuana growing and packaging, with 5,000 square feet of the 63,000-square-foot building devoted to research and development.

Theraplant owner Ethan Ruby said the first phase of renovations should take about six months, but production will start within a month after obtaining a license.

Police Chief John C. Gavallas said he was confident in Theraplant's commitment to security.

"From my discussions with the person that will be heading up the security, they have gone above and beyond in that area," he said.

The building will be monitored by security personnel 24/7, with cameras and motion detectors in every area and a minimal number of entrances.

Gavallas said he was impressed with Jeff Lakey, head of security, saying he has a strong background in industrial security as well as the military.

Gavallas said he will collaborate with Theraplant's owners on policies and procedures and doesn't think the company will add any burden to Watertown's police force.

Fire Chief Larry R. Black said he will review renovation plans with the company next week.

"From what we have seen and discussed so far, there are no concerns from a fire safety point of view," Black said.

He said the building is fully sprinklered, has a fire alarm system, more than adequate exits, and a good water supply in the area.

"It's better protected than what it needs to be," Black said.

Ruby said he has been busy meeting with potential investors. If he secures one of three to 10 state growing licenses, he plans to invest $2.5 million to purchase the building and more than $6 million in renovations and equipment. Ruby previously said he has raised nearly $8 million from angel investors.

While he's waiting for the application process to open, Ruby said he has turned his attention to advocating for the medical marijuana industry.

The General Assembly's Regulation Review Committee is expected to discuss and possibly approve regulations Aug. 27. If they're approved, applications for producer licenses should open by the end of September, with the first licenses issued next year.

No matter which companies win licenses, Ruby said, the medical marijuana industry has nothing but praise for lawmakers in Connecticut. He applauded what he called a progressive step to craft some of the strictest medical marijuana laws in the country.

"We're going to make sure that their braveness is not rewarded with an egg in their face," Ruby said.

He said all the rules are geared toward providing patients with safe, effective medicine.

"What really gives me goose bumps is the chance to really push and develop the science around this medicine," Ruby said. "That's why I will not let this fail. I will not cut corners to put that bigger picture in jeopardy."

" We're giving asylum to criminal illegal border jumpers. Growing very potent pot to get our kids higher. What's next? There are no more than 200 people in CT that "need" medical marijuana for pain relief. There will be tens in not hundreds of thousands of prescriptions written for it because it is a money maker. Just like all the 20 yr olds now being prescribed viagra and cialis so they can be superstars.

Why cant the thc or whatever pain reliever in the pot be extracted and put into pill form?

Our government is willing to kill us to get more revenue for them to spend. "

" Cannabis cures cancer google it also rick Simpson I encourage cannabis for everyone including kids.cancer preventative. You don't want kids getting cancer do you! Well educate you self! The government has a medical patent on cannabis medicine! The same government that trains terrorist and sends your kids to war to die.this plant cures everything even ignorance! "

" "There is always a possibility that a medication can be given liberally and too collectively," said Ms. Carolyn Drazinic, a psychiatrist with the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington, who also questions whether proof has been established that marijuana offers medical benefits.

She also wonders why a system to grow and dispense marijuana is needed when pills with the same active and potentially beneficial ingredients are now available.

Additionally, the AMA is not on board with medical marijuana. In a statement issued in response to questions from Hearst Newspapers, the AMA said it's calling for additional controlled studies and a review of federal prohibitions so clinical research can accelerate.

"This should not be viewed as an endorsement of state-based medical cannabis programs, the legalization of marijuana or that scientific evidence on the therapeutic use of cannabis meets the current standards for a prescription drug product," the AMA said.

As with welfare, you can rest assured that Connecticut's new system will become rife with abuse and questionable patients will troll for doctors willing to schedule an exam and issue eligibility certifications in exchange for a fee.

Nothing good medically, socially, or of local economical benefit will come from these pot factories in CT except huge profits for the investors, more tax dollars for the State to waste, and a pathway to legalization.

Once this joint is up and running in Watertown, residents can say adios to their bucolic community. "

" conservative1, you are hilarious. There has never been one documented case of someone "dying' from marijuana. Meanwhile, keep sipping on your alcohol, popping those prescription drugs, or smoking those cigarettes...all of which are legal, yet kill hundreds of thousands per year. "

" That place is perfect to grow marijuana with all the toxic chemicals left over in the walls, floor etc. will intensify the pot for a bigger buzz .Or Dumboh might spend $ one million dollars to clean it up..And how great = thou art = majesty.

I want to see that wheel chair fly around that place , woopey , no pain baby, have another drag >>>>>>>>>>>>>> "

" You people are a riot. Who gives a crap who smokes pot. You can't overdose. It's not an addictive drug. No ones ever died from smoking pot. People that smoke pot are not roaming the streets looking for their next 'fix'. People don' t get violet from smoking pot like they can from other drugs including booze. They crash on the couch with a bag of Cheetos and a TV remote. Let's not forget about the useless and ineffective drug war, in which the Gov spends $51BILLION on every year.

If your commenting on this article, and your pants are pulled up past your belly button, you need to be quiet because you have absolutely no idea what it is you're talking about.

By the way, pot will kill sciatic nerve pain and back pain immediately and allow you to have a good solid nights sleep. You WILL NOT find anything else in the world that can kill that kind of serious leg pain immediately. "

" Pot as you stated puts you on the couch rather than in the gym or at work or at SCHOOL. It makes you LAZY. As with cigarettes it HURTS your lungs and gives you CANCER.

I will agree for argument sake that pot smoking helps a few (VERY FEW) who need it for chronic pain relief. Look at California. EVERY POT HEAD IN THE STATE HAS A PRESCRIPTION FROM UNSAVORY DOCTORS. The same will happen here. And yes studies have shown pot use leads to more dangerous drugs.

You think the state is looking to help rid your pain? they want the TAX REVENUE!

I remember watertown shot down a Shopping plaza a few years ago. Theyre now going to let drug dealers operate out of their town. Remember this business is going to have to have a private (gun toting) security force to secure their drug. I'm sure the town will love this. "

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